NEW YORK -- The New York Islanders will get the first of two consecutive reminders of what once was and what could have been Tuesday night when they continue a five-game homestand by hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at Barclays Center.

The Islanders continued their months-long descent toward the bottom of the NHL on Sunday when they fell to the visiting Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. The Penguins last played Thursday when they beat the host Montreal Canadiens 5-3.

While the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins (41-26-5) enter Tuesday in the thick of a tight race for first place in the Metropolitan Division, the Islanders (30-32-10) are left to wonder how much farther they can sink after losing three in a row and 11 of their last 12 (1-7-4).